1st Edition
Animation Masterclasses: From Pencils to Pixels A Complete Course in Animation & Production
Today, it is commonly believed that if you learn software, you can become an animator. Yet nothing could be further from the truth. Master animators are trained and not born. Software, as is the humble pencil, is merely yet another tool through which an animator can apply their knowledge. However, neither software nor pencils give you that knowledge, nor do they do the work for you. If you place a fully trained master animator on a computer, or give them a pencil, they’ll astound you with their mastery. However, if you put a nontrained animator on a computer, all you will have is a technician creating moving objects ・ as you’ll see all over YouTube and other video platforms.
This book teaches you exactly how to become a Master Animator--whether you ultimately plan to use pencils, computers, drawing tablets or rigged characters. It’s a complete course, being a collection of 48 masterclasses gleaned from the author’s 50 years of experience of top-level animating, teaching, and filmmaking. It will also train you in the value and application of observational gesture drawing. This book of masterclasses by a master of the art, Tony White, is entirely designed to be THE definitive reference book for students learning how to make things move well as well as how to create films once you know how to do so.
A book for everyone:
For home-based, self-study students
: It is a perfect manual to take you from raw beginner to proven animated filmmaker.
For full-time students
: It is an ideal companion to supplement your full-time educational studies, which, no doubt, is overly based on software technology.
For current animation professionals
: It is a comprehensive archive of animation tips and techniques that will enable you to take your work to the next level.
For current animation educators and instructors
: It is a book that can be the ultimate curriculum and study program, enabling your own students to become the master animators of today and tomorrow.
Author. Acknowledgements. Introduction. SECTION I: THE CORE PRINCIPLES OF MOVEMENT – TRADITIONAL TECHNIQUES. 1 MASTERCLASS 01: Getting to Know You. 2 MASTERCLASS 02: Squash, Stretch and Bouncing Balls. 3 MASTERCLASS 03: Keys, Breakdowns and Inbetweens. 4 MASTERCLASS 04: More on "Squash & Stretch". 5 MASTERCLASS 05: More on Slow-In and Slow-Out. 6 MASTERCLASS 06: Timing and Placement. 7 MASTERCLASS 07: Generic Walk Action 01. 8 MASTERCLASS 08: Generic Walk Action 02. 9 MASTERCLASS 09: Generic Walk Action 03. 10 MASTERCLASS 10: Personality Walk Action 01 – "Double Bounce". 11 MASTERCLASS 11: Personality Walk Action 02 – "Sneak". 12 MASTERCLASS 12: Personality Walk Action 03 – "Front Walk". SECTION II: FURTHER CORE PRINCIPLES OF MOVEMENT – RIGGED DIGITAL TECHNIQUES. 13 MASTERCLASS 13: Introduction to Moho. 14 MASTERCLASS 14: The Full Rigged Character. 15 MASTERCLASS 15: Character Walk 1. 16 MASTERCLASS 16: Character Walk 2. 17 MASTERCLASS 17: "Arnie" Generic Walk. 18 MASTERCLASS 18: Generic Walk Variations. 19 MASTERCLASS 19: New Year Greeting. 20 MASTERCLASS 20: Double Jump. 21 MASTERCLASS 21: Slow Sneak Animation. 22 MASTERCLASS 22: Throwing Action. 23 MASTERCLASS 23: Digital Coloring. 24 MASTERCLASS 24: Working with Color. SECTION III: PERSONAL PROJECT – PRE-PRODUCTION. 25 MASTERCLASS 25: Storytelling. 26 MASTERCLASS 26: Concept Art. 27 MASTERCLASS 27: Character Design. 28 MASTERCLASS 28: Storyboarding & Film Language. 29 MASTERCLASS 29: More on Storyboarding & Film Language. 30 MASTERCLASS 30: Audio Record and Breakdown. 31 MASTERCLASS 31/Storyboard Animatic. 32 MASTERCLASS 32: Character Rigging 1. 33 MASTERCLASS 33: Character Rigging 2. 34 MASTERCLASS 34: Layout 1. 35 MASTERCLASS 35: Anatomy of a Sequence. 36 MASTERCLASS 36: Final Pose Test Animatic. SECTION IV: PERSONAL PROJECT – PRODUCTION. 37 MASTERCLASS 37: Key Pose Animation 1. 38 MASTERCLASS 38: Key Pose Animation 2. 39 MASTERCLASS 39: Breakdown Position 1. 40 MASTERCLASS 40: Breakdown Position 2. 41 MASTERCLASS 41: Inbetweening 1. 42 MASTERCLASS 42: Inbetweening 2. 43 MASTERCLASS 43: Cleanup 1. 44 MASTERCLASS 44: Cleanup 2. 45 MASTERCLASS 45: Background Art. 46 MASTERCLASS 46: Inking. 47 MASTERCLASS 47: Coloring. 48 MASTERCLASS 48: Post Production and Distribution. SECTION V: NOT AN END – BUT A BEGINNING! Index.
Biography
Tony White, renowned animator, director, professor, lecturer, and author, has been in the animation industry for over 50 years, and currently teaches 2D animation through his own "live & online" school, "2D ACADEMY". White began his career working with legendary industry professionals like award-winning illustrator Ralph Steadman, animation gurus Ken Harris, Art Babbit (original lead animator on Pinocchio, Fantasia, and others at Disney). He also personally assisted, then directed/animated for Richard Williams (3-time Oscar winner and author of The Animator's Survival Kit). In addition to teaching and supporting traditional and digital 2D animation in any way he can, White founded and hosts the "DRAWTASTIC Animation Festival", through which he seeks to celebrate and honor the amazing young animation talents that are emerging from around the world. White also runs the "2D ANIMAKERS" network, and is currently working on his first-ever graphic novel, "MADA and the Magic Tree", which is based on an animated movie story he hopes one day to make."
